Integrated gas meters bar device and locking shut-off valve

Abstract

A control valve assembly and for a gas delivery system is disclosed comprising a valve housing and piping combination adapted to mate with a gas meter outlet, the valve including a main inlet and an auxiliary inlet for bypassing the main inlet, and a poppet disposed within the housing for selectively opening the respective inlets and for closing both inlets. The poppet is controlled by a valve stem extending into the valve housing and coupled to the poppet, such that rotation of the valve stem orients the poppet in the predetermined positions to selectively open the respective inlets. The valve stem is rotated using a lever arm extending radially from the valve stem, where the lever arm is adapted to carry a locking member at a distal end. When the locking member is carried by the lever arm, rotation of the lever arm may be denied due to interference of the locking member with the valve housing, and the poppet in such case prevents flow through either of the inlets.

1. A flow control valve assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a valve interior and including a first port corresponding to a main inlet and a second port corresponding to a secondary inlet, an outlet longitudinally spaced from said first and second ports, and a valve stem orifice, said housing further comprising a wing stop disposed on an external surface of the housing adjacent the valve stem orifice; 
 a stem pipe mounted to the housing at the first port, the stem pipe oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing and adapted to mate with the outlet of a gas meter, and a loop pipe rigidly connected to the stem pipe and adapted to mate with housing main inlet, where the housing stem pipe and loop pipe are fabricated as a single unitary structure; 
 a poppet seated in the valve interior adjacent the first and second ports and adapted for rotation to first, second, and third predefined angular positions, the poppet occluding the second port when the poppet is rotated to the first angular position, occluding the first port when the poppet is rotated to the second angular position, and occluding both the first port and the second port when the poppet is rotated to the third angular position; and 
 a valve stem partially disposed within the housing at the valve stem orifice and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the valve stem coupled to the poppet for rotating the poppet to a selected one of the first, second, and third predefined angular positions, the valve stem further comprising a lever arm extending traverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem, the lever arm adapted to carry a locking member substantially at a distal end; 
 wherein the carrying of the locking member by the lever arm results in an interference between the locking member and the wing stop on the housing to preclude rotation of the valve stem and fix the poppet in the third angular position, thereby preventing flow into the valve through the main port and secondary port. 
 
   
   
     2. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises a pair of rotational stops along a path of the lever arm, the first rotational stop positioned to prevent said lever arm from rotating beyond a position corresponding to the poppet third angular position, and the second rotational stop positioned to prevent said lever arm from rotating beyond a position corresponding to the poppet first angular position. 
   
   
     3. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 2  where the lever arm includes a loop at a distal end for carrying the locking member, and where the lever arm may be fixed between the first rotational stop and the wing stop when the locking member is carried by the lever arm. 
   
   
     4. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 2  where rotation of the lever arm to an intermediate position between the first and second rotational stops and corresponds to the poppet occupying the second angular position. 
   
   
     5. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing includes a protective coating selected from the group of zinc and polyester. 
   
   
     6. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 1  wherein the valve stem and lever arm comprise a unitary construction. 
   
   
     7. The flow control valve assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a weather seal and snap ring cooperating to hold the valve stem in the housing at the valve stem orifice.